The recommended practices for URLs in SEO will be discussed in this post. You’ll learn what a URL is, how to build categories properly, and how to increase click-through rates from search results.
Table of Contents
What is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)?
The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) specifies the location of a web document. If you type a URL into your browser’s address bar, it will transport you to the specified webpage.
You can divide URLs down into many sections if you look closely. The URL below, for example, refers to a webpage on Semrush that is divided into four pieces.
cc: computerhope.com
HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) and HTTPS (hypertext transfer protocol secure) are the most prevalent protocols for transferring text and information across the internet (HTTP secure).
The domain name of a website, such as eBay, Expedia, or Site Score Checker, is the name of the website.
The text after the “dot” in the URL, such as .com, .gov, or .org, is referred to as the top-level domain (TLD). Top-level domains (TLDs) categorize domains by category (educational, commercial, governmental), as well as geographic location (.uk, .au, .ru, and so on). In a website’s backlink profile, authoritative TLDs such as.gov and.edu can have a favorable impact on SEO.
The route is the text after the TLD that identifies a specific location on the website where the page is situated (typically a subdirectory, category, or landing page).
Parameters in URLs
URL parameters are extra parts of a URL that are used to help filter or sort website content. A question mark (?) followed by an equal sign (=) and a number can be used to identify them.
URL parameters are commonly used for things like
- sorting gallery pages.
- Sorting product pages in an e-commerce store.
- The internal search engine of a website returns search results.
- UTMs are used to track campaigns.
Fundamentals of Managing URL Parameters
Multiple URLs with different parameters might sometimes result in identical material, as Google explains here.
This is an example of three URLs on the same site that display the same content:
| URL | Description |
| https://example.com/products/women/dresses/green.html?limit=20&sessionid=123 | The URL includes parameters to limit the number of results returned, as well as a session ID that allows the user to see the same item many times. |
| https://example.com/products/women/dresses/green.html | The page that is not parameterized and is static |
| https://example.com/products/women?category=dresses&color=green | To give the same content as a non-parameterized page, the URL employs the parameters category and color. |
To learn more in detail about URL Parameters and their best practices checkout, URL Parameters: A Beginner’s Guide 2022.
How to Optimize Your URL Structure for Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
There are many techniques to make your URLs more SEO-friendly. Keeping the big picture of your website in mind is usually the best method to build out good URLs. Your future URLs will be influenced by the arrangement of your site’s folders and categories.
1. Create categories based on what users search
Your URLs should be named with your keywords in mind to make them more appealing to searchers. This entails asking yourself key questions regarding your website’s main categories. You should ask yourself the following questions when judging your categories:
- Are they directly related to the products/services offered by your company?
- Do they have anything to do with popular searches?
- What search terms do consumers use to find your competitor’s services?
You may structure your categories and URLs to target popular search phrases if you know how people search for your services.
2. Keep things straightforward.
The simpler the URL, the better. This begins with simple categories and progresses to your site’s deeper pages. Simple is generally synonymous with short because shorter URLs are easier to read and maybe less confusing. If you can read the URL aloud, it’s probably easy enough for outsiders to read and grasp quickly.
SEO-friendly URLs, according to Brian Dean and John Lincoln, should contain 1-2 target keywords and 1-2 folders. Anything extra is likely to be confusing or difficult to read. As a result, wherever possible, construct folders with descriptive names and avoid “dynamic URLs,” or URLs with large strings of numbers at the end.
Conclusion
URLs that are SEO-friendly will:
- Incorporate your keyword.
- Make your writing descriptive and meaningful.
- Simple to understand.
- Use categories and subfolders that are appropriate.
- If at all possible, keep it to 3 to 5 words.
